Will alcohol-free fraternity houses change Greek life on WSU campus?

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»Play VideoFraternities that house first year students must be alcohol free.

PULLMAN, WA - A new policy for Washington State University fraternities is frustrating some students, but administrators say it'll make Greek life safer.

Reporter Rachel Dubrovin explains why fraternities will soon have to choose between housing freshmen, and allowing alcohol in the house.

"We've made a very small, but we hope impactful change for students," said WSU Dean of Students, Melynda Husky. "Starting with fall of next year, all fraternities that choose to house first year students will need to be alcohol free."

Last week, Washington State University President Elson Floyd sent out a letter to the Greek community announcing that fraternities with freshmen will soon have to be dry.

"When groups of young men are together, their capacity to make good decisions tends to diminish," said Huskey. "So we're looking at all the places where young men congregate in groups and hope to impact their decision making."

WSU Dean of Students Melynda Husky said it's about keeping Cougs safe, and the university's Interfraternity Council supports that decision.

"We are all Cougs, so we are all working towards that same goal," said WSU Interfraternity Council Public Relations Director Cory Hudson Jr.

While there are benefits to alcohol-free frats…

"You're going to have the ability to make the chapter house a privilege to live in, because they will be cleaner," said Hudson.

We found some WSU fraternity members that aren't pleased with the policy change.

"It's just unnecessary, more or less," said WSU Student Bryce Dugger. "And decisions are being made without us, without any kind of appeal. You can't change it, you kind of just have to deal with it. And we're just, we're honestly getting screwed. I don't like it at all."

Students we spoke with said choosing between housing freshmen and allowing alcohol will be a dilemma.

"It's about money for them," said WSU Student, Logan Pillings. "If they don't have freshmen living in, who are they going to have live in? Seniors? Seniors don't want to live in."

"I'm a freshman and I just moved into my fraternity, and just from my own experience, I've gotten a lot closer with the guys in my house, learned a lot more about my house," said WSU Student Jared Schneider. "So I think it'd really be taking away from tradition if it was to come onto act. It's going to be really interesting to see how most fraternities react."

Fraternities will need to decide whether or not to go dry by the time they start recruiting freshmen this summer. This policy change does not affect the sororities because those houses are already alcohol-free.